When I think of Korea, I think of my motherland, the place where I was born.  I left Korea when I was only 18 months old and returned for the first time at the age of 32.  As a Korean American adoptee, I always yearned for my motherland and was curious about its culture.  Questions constantly circled my mind:  “What is it like to live in Korea?”, “What kind of foods do they eat?”, “What kind of traditions do they have?” and more.   I wanted to know every aspect in detail but information was limited during my childhood and at that time, I did not know any other Koreans.  

December 2008: My first trip to Korea.  I am standing with a guard in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.
 

My first real exposure to Korean culture was when I planted myself in front of the television and watched the Opening Ceremonies of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul.  The vibrant colors of their traditional clothes and the uniquely shaped drums of various sizes captivated me.  The songs they sung in their native tongue made me wonder about the lyrics and their meanings.   These things were unfamiliar to me yet deep down inside I felt as if I could understand the story behind every beat of the drum and every word that was voiced.  I was eager to learn all that I could about the culture and history of my motherland.  Like a seed planted and nurtured to grow into a beautiful tree, I was determined to nurture and grow my tree.  This marked the beginning of my journey to be the K-Holic I was born to be. 

December 2008: (Top left) Celebrating my first birthday in Korea. (Top right) Experiencing my first noreabang, (karaoke). (Bottom left) My first Korean barbecue.  (Bottom right) Standing next to the owner of Sangsoo Herb Land and holding a bowl of flower bibimbap (꽃비빔밥).

A few years later, the internet and the World Wide Web emerged.  Suddenly, I could easily search for any topic of interest and the information appeared magically before my eyes.  It was then when I discovered that the vibrant colored traditional clothes I had admired were called hanbok.  The hourglass-shaped drum was a janggu and the large barrel drum was called jingo.  As the internet expanded, more information became available.  I learned how to make traditional Korean food and that it is referred to as hansik.  Later I filled my daily routine with K-Pop and Korean dramas/movies.  As the internet expanded, my resources multiplied and through time, my questions were answered. 

Every Saturday for three years I attended the Korean Language School in Oslo, Norway.  I had just reunited with my birth family and I wanted to be able to communicate with them without having to use a translator.  It was at this school where I experienced my first Seollal (Korean New Year) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving).  During Chuseok we learned how to make songpyeon, a half-moon shaped rice cake with a sweet filling on the inside.  My songpyeon didn’t turn out very beautiful but I already had two beautiful daughters so, that belief did not apply to me.  It was also at this school where I first learned to play the traditional Korean game yutnori and learned how to make ddakji game pieces out of paper.

(Top right) Gongginori (공기놀이), Korean jacks. (Middle left) Ttakji (딱지). (Bottom right) Korean ring knots (가락지 매듭)
 

In the year 2020, I had the opportunity to be a Citizen Journalist for the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Oslo, Norway.  The role involved creating Korea related content for one year, which was to be published on their official website and social media profiles.  I seized this opportunity as a step closer to learning about Korean culture.  I wanted to provide readers with information about Korea that was unavailable to me while growing up.   I chose topics that interested me such as; Korean history, architecture and the traditional Korean customs and arts.  I also wrote about my personal experiences from when I travelled to Korea and how I learned to play the janggu drum and carve my own injang, a Korean seal.   I loved sharing my joy for Korea with others who shared the same enthusiasm.  The year flew by so quickly and I didn't want it to end.  I was "craving" for more and that is when I discovered the Honorary Reporters Program for Korea.net by The Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. 

April 2019: (Top left) Having a janggu drum lesson with Ms. Kim, Hee-young. (Top right) Posing at the Starfield Library at the COEX Mall in Seoul.  October 2022: (Bottom left) Had my first taekwondo lesson at Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) in Seoul.  (Bottom right) At Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan.

I have been an Honorary Reporter since 2021 and at that time, I had no idea what I was getting myself into but was very excited to take on a new adventure. Now that it is my fourth year, I can say that I have no regrets. I have enjoyed every single part of this program; from the seminars, group projects, monthly challenges, online gatherings and creating content to share on Korea.net. Through networking, I have been able to form lasting friendships with people from all over the world and of all ages, with the youngest Honorary Reporter being 9 years of age. No matter our status and cultural background, we come together in sharing our love and experiences about anything and all things related to one topic, KOREA. 

Thank you for my Certificate of Appointment and Honorary Reporter Kit!

Since my first year, I have learned and gained more insight from our supervisors through their informative seminars/webinars they plan and organize. Their countless hours of dedication to this program has only inspired me to become the best Honorary Reporter that I can be. In October 2022, I had the honor of visiting the KOCIS office where I was greeted by Enny and other members of the staff. Everyone at the office made me feel welcome as if I was at home. 

Friends, acquaintances and even diplomats, who have taken this journey with me from the very beginning, have complimented my work saying that they can feel the special joy that I have for Korea when they read one of my articles and/or watch one of my videos.  This has warmed my heart and made my whole purpose for being an Honorary Reporter all the more worthwhile. 

A representation of my Korean Tree of Knowledge depicted with images from 1978 to 2024. 

After four trips to Korea, four years of creating Korea related content and being a member of several Korean associations and groups, I feel that my Korean Tree of Knowledge has grown into a flourishing tree that represents my love and understanding of Korea.  I will continue to nurture my tree where it can hold a special place in my heart and for Korea.  I am thankful for these programs and for my Korean friends who have brought me closer to my motherland and helped me be the K-Holic I was born to be.